Chapter 12

In consequence of an agreement between the sisters, Elizabeth wrote the morning to their mother,
to beg that the carriage might be sent for them in the course of the day. But Mrs. Bennet, who had calculated on her
daughters remaining at Netherfield till the following Tuesday, which would exactly finish Jane’s week, could not bring
herself to receive them with pleasure before. Her answer, therefore, was not propitious, at least not to Elizabeth’s
wishes, for she was impatient to get home. Mrs. Bennet sent them word that they could not possibly have the carriage
before Tuesday; and in her postscript it was added, that if Mr. Bingley and his sister pressed them to stay longer, she
could spare them very well. Against staying longer, however, Elizabeth was positively resolved — nor did she much expect
it would be asked; and fearful, on the contrary, as being considered as intruding themselves needlessly long, she urged
Jane to borrow Mr. Bingley’s carriage immediately, and at length it was settled that their original design of leaving
Netherfield that morning should be mentioned, and the request made.

The communication excited many professions of concern; and enough was said of wishing them to stay at least till the
following day to work on Jane; and till the morrow their going was deferred. Miss Bingley was then sorry that she had
proposed the delay, for her jealousy and dislike of one sister much exceeded her affection for the other.

The master of the house heard with real sorrow that they were to go so soon, and repeatedly tried to persuade Miss
Bennet that it would not be safe for her — that she was not enough recovered; but Jane was firm where she felt herself to
be right.

To Mr. Darcy it was welcome intelligence — Elizabeth had been at Netherfield long enough. She attracted him more than
he liked — and Miss Bingley was uncivil to her, and more teasing than usual to himself. He wisely resolved to be
particularly careful that no sign of admiration should now escape him, nothing that could elevate her with the
hope of influencing his felicity; sensible that if such an idea had been suggested, his behaviour during the last day
must have material weight in confirming or crushing it. Steady to his purpose, he scarcely spoke ten words to her through
the whole of Saturday, and though they were at one time left by themselves for half-an-hour, he adhered most
conscientiously to his book, and would not even look at her.

On Sunday, after morning service, the separation, so agreeable to almost all, took place. Miss Bingley’s civility to
Elizabeth increased at last very rapidly, as well as her affection for Jane; and when they parted, after assuring the
latter of the pleasure it would always give her to see her either at Longbourn or Netherfield, and embracing her most
tenderly, she even shook hands with the former. Elizabeth took leave of the whole party in the liveliest of spirits.

They were not welcomed home very cordially by their mother. Mrs. Bennet wondered at their coming, and thought them
very wrong to give so much trouble, and was sure Jane would have caught cold again. But their father, though very laconic
in his expressions of pleasure, was really glad to see them; he had felt their importance in the family circle. The
evening conversation, when they were all assembled, had lost much of its animation, and almost all its sense by the
absence of Jane and Elizabeth.

They found Mary, as usual, deep in the study of thorough-bass and human nature; and had some extracts to admire, and
some new observations of threadbare morality to listen to. Catherine and Lydia had information for them of a different
sort. Much had been done and much had been said in the regiment since the preceding Wednesday; several of the officers
had dined lately with their uncle, a private had been flogged, and it had actually been hinted that Colonel Forster was
going to be married.